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The Tradeoff with Mattie Duppler

The Tradeoff in the December Jobs Report: Explaining the Reshaping of the Labor Market

Season 1, Ep. 2
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December Jobs Report: Why Slower Growth Is the Real Story

The December jobs report looks healthy on the surface, but the underlying numbers tell a more complicated story. Job growth heading into 2025 is running well below levels seen in past economic expansions, even as unemployment remains low.


In this episode, Mattie Duppler breaks down why the slowdown isn’t a sign of sudden weakness, but the result of three forces reshaping the labor market at the same time. First, the rise of AI is boosting productivity, allowing companies to grow output without adding workers. Second, tighter immigration policies are constraining labor supply, limiting hiring even where demand exists. Third, tariffs are increasing policy uncertainty, leading businesses to delay investment and expansion.


Together, these dynamics help explain why job growth feels weaker than the headlines suggest. This episode explains what the December jobs report really tells us about the U.S. labor market, economic growth, and business confidence as the economy moves into 2025.

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  • 1. Introducing: The Tradeoff with Mattie Duppler

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